Collapsible windshield

ABSTRACT

A collapsible windshield includes arched plates connected to one another by pivot assemblies so that the arched plates can be pivoted relative to one another between an extended position and a collapsed position. Each of the arched plates includes a concave face and a convex face. Only a portion of the convex face of each of the arched plates is placed against a portion of the concave face of another one of the arched plates when the collapsible windshield is in the extended position. The entire convex face of each of the arched plates is placed against the entire concave face of another one of the arched plates when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position. A group of the arched plates is directed in a direction. An alternate group of the arched plates is directed in an opposite direction when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a stoking apparatus and, more particularly, to a collapsible windshield for use in a stoking apparatus.

2. Related Prior Art

A gas stove is often used for cooking at home. A gas stove includes at least one burner surrounded by a supporting element adapted for supporting a pod or pan for example. The gas stove is often located near a window for ventilation. Sometimes, flames produced by the gas stove are blown out by strong wind through the window, and this is dangerous for people at home.

Sometimes, the gas stove is used out of a building. In such a case, it is more likely that the flames produced by the gas stove could be blown out by strong wind. Alternatively, combustible things can be brought to the flames by wind and catch fire. The things that have been set on fire can be brought to other places by the wind and cause disasters.

As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 482277, a windshield 1 includes an annular element 10 includes cutouts 16 at a lower edge. The cutouts 16 receive portions of a supporting element 21 of a gas stove 2 when the windshield 1 is provided on the gas stove 2. Thus, the windshield 1 protects flames produced by the gas stove 2 from strong wind. However, the annular element 10 is not collapsible and hence takes a lot of space when it is not in use.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible windshield.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the collapsible windshield includes arched plates connected to one another by pivot assemblies so that the arched plates can be pivoted relative to one another between an extended position and a collapsed position. Each of the arched plates includes a concave face and a convex face. Only a portion of the convex face of each of the arched plates is placed against a portion of the concave face of another one of the arched plates when the collapsible windshield is in the extended position. The entire convex face of each of the arched plates is placed against the entire concave face of another one of the arched plates when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position. A group of the arched plates is directed in a direction. An alternate group of the arched plates is directed in an opposite direction when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a collapsible windshield according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible windshield shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial, side view of the collapsible windshield shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial, side view of the collapsible windshield in another position than shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the collapsible windshield shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stoking apparatus including a pan and the collapsible windshield shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a collapsible windshield 10 includes three arched plates 20, 30 and 40 connected to one another by three pivot assemblies 50 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The collapsible windshield 10 can include any other proper number of arched plates in another embodiment.

The first arched plate 20 includes a first end 22, a second end 24 opposite to the first end 22, a concave face 26, a convex face 28 opposite to the concave face 26, and a cutout 21 at a lower edge. The cutout 21 divides the first arched plate 20 into two halves 23.

The first arched plate 20 further includes an opening 53 near the second end 24. The opening 53 includes a circular aperture 55 and a slot 57 in communication with the circular aperture 55. The diameter of the circular aperture 55 is larger than the width of the pivot 52.

The second arched plate 30 includes a first end 32, a second end 34 opposite to the first end 32, a concave face 36, a convex face 38 opposite to the concave face 36, and a cutout 31 at a lower edge. The cutout 31 divides the second arched plate 30 into two halves 33.

The third arched plate 40 includes a first end 42, a second end 44 opposite to the first end 42, a concave face 46, a convex face 48 opposite to the concave face 46, and a cutout 41 at a lower edge. The cutout 41 divides the third arched plate 40 into two halves 43.

Each of the pivot assemblies 50 includes a pivot 52 and a washer 56. The pivot 52 is preferably a rivet. However, the pivot 52 can be a threaded bolt or a pin in another embodiment. The pivot 52 includes a head 58 made with a diameter smaller than that of the circular aperture 55. Hence, the head 58 is axially movable throughout the circular aperture 55. The pivot 52 is made with an enlarged portion 51 after it is inserted in two adjacent ones of the arched plates 20, 30 and 40. With the enlarged portion 51 and the head 58, the pivot 52 keeps two adjacent ones of the arched plates 20, 30 and 40 pivotally connected to each other.

The pivot 52 of one of the pivot assemblies 50 is inserted in the first arched plate 20 and the second arched plate 30 when a portion of the convex face 8 of the first arched plate 20 near the first end 22 is located against a portion of the concave face 36 of the second arched plate 30 near the second end 34. Thus, the first arched plate 20 is pivotally connected to the second arched plate 30.

The pivot 52 of another pivot assembly 50 is inserted in the second arched plate 30 and the third arched plate 40 when a portion of the convex face 38 of the second arched plate 30 near the first end 32 is located against a portion of the concave face 46 of the third arched plate 40 near the second end 44. Thus, the second arched plate 30 is pivotally connected to the third arched plate 40.

The pivot 52 of the other pivot assembly 50 is inserted in a portion of the third arched plate 40 near the first end 42. This pivot 52 can be used inserted in the opening 53 to connect the third arched plate 40 to the first arched plate 20 in a manner to be described latter.

Thus, the arched plates 20, 30 and 40 are connected to one another by the pivots 52 of the pivot assemblies 50. Thus, the arched plates 20, 30 and 40 can be pivoted relative one another about the pivots 52. Hence, the collapsible windshield can be switched between an extended position and a collapsed position.

In each pivot assembly 50, the washer 56 is provided on the pivot 52 to prevent the expanded portion 51 of the pivot 52 from rubbing against the concave face 26, 36 of 46 of the arched plate 20, 30 or 40. However, it can be foreseen that the pivot assembly 50 located near the first end 42 of the third arched plate 40 does not include any washer in another embodiment.

When the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position, the arched plates 20, 30 and 40 are overlapped. The convex face 28 of the first arched plate 20 is placed against the concave face 36 of the second arched plate 30. The convex face 38 of the second arched plate 30 is placed against the concave face 46 of the third arched plate 40. Thus, the collapsible windshield is compact and occupies a small space. The cutouts 21 and 41 of the first and third arched plates 20 and 40 are located on a side while the cutout 31 of the second arched plate 30 is located on an opposite side.

When the collapsible windshield is in the extended position, only the portion of the convex face 8 of the first arched plate 20 near the first end 22 is located against the portion of the concave face 36 of the second arched plate 30 near the second end 34. Only the portion of the convex face 38 of the second arched plate 30 near the first end 32 is located against the portion of the concave face 46 of the third arched plate 40 near the second end 44. The cutouts 21, 31 and 41 of the arched plates 20, 30 and 40 are located on a same side.

Referring to FIG. 3, the head 58 of the pivot 52 located near the first end 42 of the third arched plate 40 is axially moved throughout the circular aperture 55 when the portion of the concave face 26 of the first arched plate 20 near the second end 24 is placed against the portion of the convex face 48 of the third arched plate 40 near the first end 42.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pivot 52 located near the first end 42 of the third arched plate 40 is moved along the slot 57. This is possible because the width of the slot 57 is larger than the diameter of the pivot 52 as mentioned above. The width of the slot 57 is smaller than the diameter of the circular aperture 55. Hence, the head 58 cannot be axially moved throughout the slot 57, i.e., the first arched plate 20 is kept against the third arched plate 40.

The pivot 52 can be moved along the slot 57 in an opposite direction and returned to the circular aperture 55 to allow movement of the head 58 throughout the circular aperture 55 in an opposite direction. Thus, the first arched plate 20 can be detached from the third arched plate 40.

Referring to FIG. 6, a stoking apparatus 60 includes three struts 62 and a pan 64 located in a space amid the struts 62. The collapsible windshield is supported on the struts 62. The cutouts 21, 31 and 41 of the arched plates 20, 30 and 40 receive the struts 62. The halves 23 of the first arched plate 20 are located on two sides of the corresponding strut 62. The halves 33 of the second arched plate 30 are located on two sides of the corresponding strut 62. The halves 43 of the third arched plate 40 are located on two sides of the corresponding strut 62. Some charcoal 66 is placed in the pan 64 and ignited. Flames are protected from strong wind by the collapsible windshield. However, an amount of air is admitted to a space above the pan 64 to bust the combustion of the charcoal 66 since the pan 64 is not completely covered by the collapsible windshield.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A collapsible windshield comprising arched plates connected to one another by pivot assemblies so that the arched plates can be pivoted relative to one another between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein each of the arched plates comprises a concave face and a convex face, wherein only a portion of the convex face of each of the arched plates is placed against a portion of the concave face of another one of the arched plates when the collapsible windshield is in the extended position, wherein the entire convex face of each of the arched plates is placed against the entire concave face of another one of the arched plates when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position, wherein the arched plates are sorted into two alternate groups, wherein one of the groups of the arched plates is directed in a direction while the other group of the arched plates is directed in an opposite direction when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position.
 2. The collapsible windshield according to claim 1, wherein each of the pivot assemblies comprises a pivot.
 3. The collapsible windshield according to claim 2, wherein each of the pivot assemblies further comprises a washer provided on the pivot, against a corresponding one of the arched plates.
 4. The collapsible windshield according to claim 2, wherein a first one of the arched plates comprises an opening, wherein the pivot of one of the pivot assemblies provided a last one of the arched plates is detachably insertion in the opening.
 5. The collapsible windshield according to claim 4, wherein the opening comprises a circular aperture and a slot in communication with the circular aperture so that the pivot is movable between the circular aperture and the slot, wherein the circular aperture comprises a diameter and the slot comprises a width smaller than the diameter of the circular aperture, wherein the rive comprises a head with a diameter smaller than that of the circular aperture but larger than the width of the slot to allow axial movement of the head throughout the circular aperture but prevent the head from axial movement throughout the slot.
 6. A stoking apparatus comprising the collapsible windshield according to claim 1 and struts for supporting the collapsible windshield.
 7. The stoking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the arched plates comprises a cutout for receiving a corresponding one of the struts.
 8. The stoking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the arched plates comprises two halves divided by the cutout, wherein the halves of each of the arched plates are located on two opposite sides of the corresponding strut.
 9. The stoking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cutouts of one of the groups of the arched plates are directed in a direction while the cutouts of the other group of the arched plates are directed in an opposite direction when the collapsible windshield is in the collapsed position. 